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| Plot Summary of Beneath a Marble Sky - A Novel of the Taj Mahal |
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"Shors's novel about the creation of the Taj Mahal is narrated by Jahanara, the eldest daughter of the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan, and his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Jahanara's formative years are spent understanding her future role as a representative of a Muslim emperor presiding over an empire populated by a Hindu majority. As Jahanara grows up, she begins to see the tensions between her brother, Aurangzeb, and the rest of the family, particularly with her oldest brother, Dara.
As Jahanara evolves into a remarkable young woman, her life becomes increasingly complicated. Her parents wed her to a wealthy silver merchant who only wants Jahanara as a wife to boost his power within the imperial court. This marriage pulls Jahanara from the intricate activities of the court; where the power struggles to succeed Shah Jahan have begun to dominate affairs. Aurangzeb, his hatred for the family growing, sees his fame as a warrior spread as he successfully conducts various military campaigns against the empire's many enemies. Dara, conversely, busies himself by studying philosophy and religion. Jahanara worries about Dara's indifference to matters of the court, and tries to warn her brother about the risks posed by Aurangzeb.
Mumtaz Mahal dies giving birth to her fourteenth child. Her death spurs Shah Jahan to build a mausoleum the likes of which the world has never seen to memorialize his beloved wife. The emperor employs Isa, a famous architect, to build what will become the Taj Mahal. Jahanara is asked to help Isa in this demanding task, which allows her to escape her dreaded husband. The pages really start to fly when Jahanara falls in love with Isa, and when civil war breaks out (pitting Aurangzeb against Dara and Jahanara) immediately after the Taj Mahal is completed."
Paul Benson, Resident Scholar
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McPherson, 2004, 24.95, 324 pp.
ISBN: 0929701712
Someone named Jahanara tells the truth of her lineage to her disbelieving grandchildren. Back in 1632, her father, the Emperor of Hindustan, Shah Jahan, mourned the loss of his beloved love buddy, his wife Mumtaz Mahal, one of many spouse in his harem, but to him she was his primary wife. He depended on her wisdom in all matters including war and politics. Foreseeing the future, Taj, as the Emperor affectionately called her, mentored her wisest daughter Jahanara to replace her as the regal advisor if misfortune should strike her down, which occurs during childbirth.
Jahanara became the grieving Jahan's right hand “man” instead of her brothers. She encourages her father to have the monument to his wife built and became the liaison with the architect Isa. As she and Isa fall into a forbidden love, her time at the royal court ends when a brother, Aurangzeb, violently takes the throne forcing her into exile after she is raped; now years later she tells her story to her descendents.
Harriet Klausner"
Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar
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| Review Analysis of Beneath a Marble Sky - A Novel of the Taj Mahal |
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Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Tone of book?
- thoughtful
Time/era of story
- 17th century
Life of a profession:
- prince/nobleman/king/queen
Inside culture (main char)
- Indian (Ghandi, not Sitting Bull)
Is this an adult or child's book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Outside culture (society)
- Indian (Ghandi, not Sitting Bull)
Job/Profession/Status story
Yes
Ethnic/regional/gender life
Yes
Main Character
Gender
- Female
Profession/status:
- politician/elected ruler
- Prince/Nobleman/King
Age:
- 20's-30's
- 40's-50's
Ethnicity/Nationality
- Indian Indian
- Arab
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Very much smarter than other characters
Physique
- very athletic
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 20's-30's
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- politician/elected ruler
- Prince/Nobleman/King
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a moderate amount
- an average amount
How sensitive is this character?
- mean, arrogant
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- very athletic
Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings?
- 4 ()
Asia/Pacific
Yes
Asian country:
- Arabia
- India
Style
Person
- mostly 1st
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- explicit references to torture
Sex in book?
Yes
What kind of sex:
- vague references
Unusual Style:
- a lot of flashback and forwards
- a lot of stream of consciousness
Amount of dialog
- significantly more dialog than descript
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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